The Year in News 2009

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

LIL WAYNE, THE REAL CAKE BOSS

It's hard to decide what was the most WTF thing about this. The fact that it's a cake shaped like a 3-D model of Lil Wayne's head? The licorice dreads? The chocolate sunglasses? The fact that it was made for the birthday of Ireland Basinger-Baldwin, daughter of Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger?!?!?! When asked about the cake, Alec Baldwin told New York magazine, "No, I didn't [get it for her]. I don't know where that came from. But I will take that idea. I will give her a Little Wayne cake for her next birthday." Whatever, dad. She's totally going to want a Gucci Mane cake next year.

The indie rock community was devastated by the November 7 death of Jerry Fuchs, drummer for several bands, including !!!, the Juan MacLean, Maserati, and Turing Machine. The 34-year-old Fuchs' death was especially gruesome; he fell down an elevator shaft in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Friends and fellow musicians took to the internet to pay tribute to Fuchs' life and musical legacy.

In November, we also said goodbye to comedian Ken Ober, host of the pioneering MTV show "Remote Control". And in December, trailblazing experimental guitarist Jack Rose died of a heart attack at the age of 38.

KING KHAN TANGLES WITH THE POPO IN KENTUCKY

Arish "King" Khan is known for his chaotic live shows, but on November 12, those wild ways spilled off the stage and into the path of Johnny Law. King Khan & BBQ Show left a St. Louis crowd confused when they didn't show up for their gig that night, but it turned out that they had a good excuse: Khan and tour manager Kristin Klein had been arrested in Kentucky (in Christian County, ironically) for allegedly possessing hallucinogenic mushrooms. Klein was also charged with driving with a suspended license. A few shows were missed, but the band was back on the road within days. Hey, it's good to know somebody out there is still keeping that true rock'n'roll spirit alive, and drug dealers in business.

FIERY FURNACES, 0; BECK, 1; RADIOHEAD, INFINITY

The Fiery Furnaces' Matthew Friedberger certainly wasn't the only person to wage one-sided war with Radiohead in 2009, but he was the one to do it in the most spectacular fashion. In an interview with Spinner, he dissed Radiohead's "Harry Patch (In Memory Of)" as "bogus" and "a put-on." Once that interview caught everyone's attention, Friedberger followed it up with a confusing statement claiming that he had intentionally mixed up the famous World War I veteran Harry Patch, the song's subject, with experimental composer Harry Partch. And he took the opportunity to twist the knife even farther: "Like most creative musicians, Matt Friedberger is not a fan of Radiohead and most of their chart busters." He also added another target to his fight: "Matt would have much preferred to insult Beck but he is too afraid of Scientologists."